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Alabama hits obese workers with fee "Alabama Fat Tax"
The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance that otherwise is free.
Alabama will be the first state to charge its overweight workers who don't try to slim down, while a handful of other states reward employees who adopt healthful behaviors.
Alabama already charges workers who smoke -- and has seen some success in getting them to quit -- but now has turned its attention to a problem that plagues many people in the Deep South: obesity. The state of Alabama has given its 37,527 employees until 2010 to start getting fit -- or they'll pay $25 a month for insurance t... more -
Republicans Have Handed Democrats a Winning Election Issue
But so far, Democrats have been refusing to accept the gift.
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The misshapen mind: How the brain's haphazard evolution left us with self-des...
Evolution didn't quite hit perfection when it comes to human thought processes.
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Cynthia McKinney, the New Nader?
Cynthia McKinney, a former six-term Congresswoman and an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, launched her campaign as a Green Party candidate for President.
In a video news release, McKinney says "the Republicans have deceived us; the Democrats have failed us. It is time for a new beginning: A time for hope to rise from the ashes of despair." Cynthia McKinney, a former six-term Congresswoman and an outspoken opponent of the war in Iraq, launched her campaign as a Green Party... more -
Individuals, Corporations, and The State
I have often said I would gladly eliminate the right of labor organizations to contribute to candidates and parties if we also eliminate the right of corporations to contribute to candidates and parties. I think only real individual persons - not corporate "legal persons", unions, or PACs - should be able to participate so directly in our democratic process. And yes, I support public financing of campaigns because it is good value for the money and a great investment in something that is absolutely crucial - the integrity of our democratic process.
Some might argue that this is socialism and that socialism is always bad. I honestly don't care if something is "socialized" or not. That is a label that describes much of our current system that works just fine. Like the post office. It is a not for profit organization that is run by the state - and that sure doesn't describe capitalism. What is important is that economies be mixed. If everything is run by the state and that is the only option for consumers, then we lose the real innovation and diversity which competitive economic markets provide.
Again, the post office is a great example. They don't deliver on Sunday. If I really need something delivered on a Sunday, I can hire a private sector organization like FedEx or UPS. In most other cases, the state run organization is sufficient and less expensive.
In public policy the trick is to find the right balance. Absolute free markets - totally unrestricted and unregulated - would be a disaster. Does anyone seriously advocate zero regulation and zero certification of brain surgeons, airline pilots, trucking companies, insurance companies and banks? It was lack of regulation, examiners, and enforcement which led to the savings and loan disaster. That was a very expensive hit for we the people - almost US$4,000 per capita! And that is just for the part of the deposits that were federally insured. Individual investors who had more than US$100,000 in a given Savings and Loan lost everything above that amount.
It would have been well worth our while as a nation to have spent ten times as much on federal regulators than we did. These Savings and Loans were making criminally stupid loans. But in the prevailing ideology of the time the Big Government Is Bad mantra trumped any reasonable analysis or balance. Deregulation was the watchword and it was a disaster.
Regulation can be onerous and counterproductive, too. But the task of achieving a proper balance in our public policy between freedom in the markets and reasonable protections for We The People and our Commonwealth should be guided by reasonable analysis - not politics and ideology.
It sometimes seems popular to hate the government. But, at its best, our representative system elects the most qualified among us to hash out the many complex questions of policies and programs for the benefit of all. The extreme branch of Libertarian thought suggests that a simple "Let The Buyer Beware" is sufficient. The free market will regulate itself! But this requires every consumer to become an expert in product safety, aviation, health care, financial instruments, global markets, etc.
Who will advocate for the working class? Aside from organized labor, it is the proper role of our representative government to advocate for the working class. Just as it is our representatives' proper role to advocate for all the classes of individuals they represent. When those we elect act as representatives of corporations it is a crime. I have often said I would gladly eliminate the right of labor organizations to contribute to candidates and parties if we also elimina... more -
U.S. PIRG Transit Video Contest
In the last decade, the amount of time that Americans spend stuck in rush hour traffic has more than doubled, and it’s only getting worse. If we had other options, like more and better public transportation, we could save that time – along with a whole lot of air pollution and CO2 emissions, dollars at the pump, and frustration.
The U.S. Public Interest Research Group (PIRG) is committed to improving public transportation by helping to make it work faster and cleaner for all of us. That’s where you come in. We need a new vision for public transportation in America, so we're calling on you to film it.
We want you to create your most persuasive video about why we need more and better public transportation. What should a 21st century transit system look like or not look like? Perhaps your vision focuses on biking, walking, and ultra-convenient mass transit, or perhaps it presents the endless auto gridlock and rising gas prices of today. The only limit is your imagination!
We'll use the winning videos to help decision-makers imagine with us a better future and see the dangers of keeping the status quo. Your video will be a critical part of an effort to educate local and state representatives, and to call on Washington, D.C. to change the way it funds our transportation system.
The winner will receive a $500 prize and will be featured on our website. Runners-up will win $250, $150, and honorable mentions will receive a one-year membership to U.S. PIRG.
You can see our sample video and learn more about the issues and the contest here: http://www.uspirg.org/transit-video-contest
We look forward to seeing your entry.
Break a leg (but of course, film safely)! In the last decade, the amount of time that Americans spend stuck in rush hour traffic has more than doubled, and it’s only getting wo... more -
Cannabis laws to be strengthened in the UK
Now that weed is getting stronger Big Brother is going to put you behind bars for a longer time if you get busted.
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Rockefellers call for change at Exxon Mobil
I am sure the board will listen, after all Exxon is still fighting not to pay for the Valdez spill in 1989.
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BP and Shell post big profits in era of record oil prices
Oil companies making huge profits, is anyone surprised by this.
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French newspapers reported Monday that President Nicolas Sarkozy is romancing supe...
Is this guy living like a Rock Star? Why do I care? Is she the hottest possible first lady of France?
Could Sarkozy be the Modern version of Pierre Trudeau the former Prime Minister of Canada who was quoted as saying "The state has no business in the bedrooms of the nation."?
Pierre Trudeau was famous for dating celebrities in the 70's, and received allot of flack at the time. He was still one of Canada's most influential leaders.
Should the personal lives of our leaders really be our business? If our leaders are doing their jobs properly should we care what goes on behind closed doors?
The current American President, seems to have very normal home life; maybe we need the good old days of "I did not have sex with that women"? Is this guy living like a Rock Star? Why do I care? Is she the hottest possible first lady of France? ... more -
Eco-friendly kangaroo farts could help global warming:
The three stooges would be proud.
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New train for the US?
Imagine the US catching up with the rest of the industrial world!
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Energy plan pushes automakers on mpg
This should be good for a laugh. Funny how the US car makers fought this back in the 70's. Deja Vu?
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Study Examines Public, Private Schools
When controlling for a variety of other factors, including income, the studied discussed in this article found no significant difference in achievement levels between students at private and public high schools. It's an interesting result, one that contradicts the logic of many parents, teachers, etc. Something of even greater interest is that the study found parents to play a more important role than whether the child went to a private or public school Makes a ton of sense if you ask me.
"Low-income students who attend urban public high schools generally do just as well as private-school students with similar backgrounds, according to a study being released Wednesday." When controlling for a variety of other factors, including income, the studied discussed in this article found no significant differen... more -
Legislation Wiki -- New Zealand lets YOU (help) draft Police Act
New Zealand's has an open wiki to help draft the new version of the Police Act of 1958. (!!!) This is a small (first?) step in the direction of opening up governance and "creating a conversation of ideas" that can actually turn into policy.
From the site:
"An official Bill is currently being written-up by parliamentary drafters, but in parallel there's an opportunity for others to suggest how a new Policing Act might look by contributing to a wiki Act. It'll be kept open until 1 November 2007, when the results can be fed back into the official law-making process.
Creating this online environment is a continuation of the open process used throughout the Police Act Review. It's all about encouraging a national conversation on policing."
Awesome. New Zealand's has an open wiki to help draft the new version of the Police Act of 1958. (!!!) This is a small (first?) step in ... more -
Hillary Set To Announce Her Health Plan in Iowa
We all remember Hillary getting burned the last time she played this game, after she wrote a health plan when hubby Bill was president (the mess triggered her transition from vocal partner to her husband to the muted more traditional first lady look and feel - it was weird). This time around, she's keeping it simple, leaving more options on the table and using the individual mandate principle (similar to how state's require driver's licenses or car insurance) that's widely politically accepted.
Sounds fine, although in truth - that plan she wrote during Bill's days was actually a really good one, if politically unfeasible. Here's to hoping the new plan offers many (all?!) of the benefits of her original, but in a manner that the politicians will actually go for.
And...don't you love how the WSJ uses illustrations instead of pictures?! I do! We all remember Hillary getting burned the last time she played this game, after she wrote a health plan when hubby Bill was president... more -
Must we destroy the family to save the world?
Is contemporary environmentalism motivated by genocidal fantasies? Responses to Daniel Engber's analysis of calls for voluntary population control include several such accusations. Is contemporary environmentalism motivated by genocidal fantasies? Responses to Daniel Engber's analysis of calls for voluntary p... more
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Public Policy
